Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-08

How the Good Gray Poet Was Vindi-
Gated by . Stubborn Jury.

C8te0 0Y u STUBBORN jury
From the New York World.
The story that Walt whitman is inflrm and poor
calls to mind story OF the early days, when the
author OF "Blades OF Grass" lived with his father
in Babylon. The old gentleman occupied the Min
turn place. west of the village about mile and a.
half. 1t was in 1910. The budding poet, then
about eighteen years of age, had just returned
home after his venture In journalism in Hunting
ton. His success had not been marked; in fact, it
is questioned whether it should not be put down
as miserable failure.
Walt Whitman, as described by the old ladies OF
the village, was a handsome youth, full OF life.
pert in his manner and brisk in his walk. He was
broad-shouldered and muscular always walking
erect, with sailor swing OF easy Independence.
HIS dress suggested water dog" HIS collar was
back, exposing his robust breast. short sailor
jacket and wide trousers contributed an air OF
an airing. Capt. Simon Cooper Is reported say
ing: 81 can smell salt water ten miles away just
on seeing whitman"
He was popular favorite among both sexes in
the village, and many jolly yarns are told OF those
days which, no doubt, the now aged and suffering
poet can recall with pleasure.
One OF the stories called to mind is the arrest OF
the poet for an assault upon young man named
farm occupied by the Whitmans. A trout pond
formed the boundary. In this pond Walt delighted
TO fish. ON certain day while Whitman was sit
ting In his boat angling, young Carman conceived
the Idea OF annoying him. He first threw stones
SC as to disturb the water near the fisherman.
Seeing no effect upon the stOlid fisherman he got
in his own boat and commenced Ieisurely rowing
around in the vicinity OF the poet, to The total
destruction of fishing. Even this annoyance failed
to call forth any reprOof or remOnStrance, and
Whitman fshed on as though nothing was annoy
ing him. AT first the lad was careful to keep
beyond the reach Of the fishing-poe, but finally,
his suspicious being quoted by the manner OF the
fisherman, who in casual sort of way piled him
with various questions, asking If he were not
nameSake OF Benjamin Franklin, and engaging
him in cheerful conversation the boy edged nearer
and nearer, until, coming within the range of
Whitman's flsh-pole the poet caught him I'M
awares and thrashed him numerically, breaking
his pole and infcting quite severe injuries upon
the boy. Diminishing him with the admontlon tni.t
the next time To refrain from interfering with his
fishing.
But this was not destined to be the last of the
matter. The elder Carnan, in rage at the caSt1-
cation OF his son, sWore out warrant for Whit
mans arrest before Justice Joel Jarvis OF Hunt
iaGtOn. In those DAYS Babylon was land OF 'run
and romance" and many quaint characters clus-
tered about the village. The news OF the import
ant arrest Travelled like wi!dfire, and when the
constable produced the prisoner before the magiS-
trate the little seven-by-nine courtroom was
crowded. Gen. Richard Udall, afterwards member
OF assembly from Suffolk, appeared as attorney
for Carman, While Whitman pleaded his own case
The Jury was made up OF men who thought more
OF common sense than OF law. The foreman was
John Edwards, an EnglShman, full OF stubborn
persistence, prepared 10 insist upon having his
own way. The progress OF the trial was not devoid
Of interest: In fact for years the case OF the h
most celebrated on the "merry old south side"
Gen. Udall made clear case. The evidence was
not disputed. Whitman, when he summed up his
defense, told the jury the facts in the case.
He admitted he had trounced the boy, but
plead in justification that Carman had tnterfered
with his vested rights and had made himself
nuisance. and the nuisance had simply been
abated. The jury filed out They were out but
few moments and returned into court.
The justice resetted his stee-bowed spectacles
so that he could more readily look over them and
asked: gentlemen Of the jury, have you agreed
upon your verdict?'
awe ave - said Edwards
''What is it?' asked his honor.
ave find 'e did not it him ard enough" said the
foreman.
The uproarious laughter which greeted this YER
dict the Justice was unable TO quel, and in his
righteous Indignation broke his SpeCtaces1 in his
endeavOr TO sufficiently express his dioapprOval.
When quiet was restored he explained TO the jury
that they must lind verdict OF guilty or mot
guilty." when the spectators were again con-
yulsed by the answer OF the sturdy Yorkshire
gentleman, who StubbOrnly insisted that the only
verdict Of the jury that ''nhitman lad not 1t
i'm ard enough. and after repeated attempts to
get matters right, the prisoner was discharged
and the verdi stands to-day that "the plaintiff
was not hit hard enough
Whitman, father was a coarse, large-bOned,
very tall and powerful man. His motner Is re-
called as a slight, refined, lady-like woman Of
most prcpossesaing manners.
Up-GailI.
Does the road wind uphill all the way?
les. to the very end.
VIII the days journey take the whole long day?
FROM morn 10 hight, my fllenu
But is there for the night a resting place?
~, a roof 70: . when the SLOW dark hours bes,ins
You cannot miss that inn.
Shall meet other wayfarers at night
Those vino have gone before
Then must knock or call When jus, in sight?
They will not keep You standing at the door.
Shall find comfort travel sore and weaks
OF labor you shall find the sum
Will there be beds Tor Inc and all who seek?
-CHR1sr1NA RossErrI